Pedestal-extension-table lock.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

7 G. S. BURTON. PEDESTAL EXTENSION TABLE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1907'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. BURTON, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EMIL TYDEN, OF HASTINGS,

- MICHIGAN.

PEDESTAL-EXTENSION-TABLE LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed July 1, 1907. Serial No. 381,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improve ments in Pedestal-Extension-Table Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved device for locking together the parts of a pedestal extension table, particuarly adapted for such use in a table in which the table to members have a limited range of extensibility without opening the pedestal.

It consists of the features of construction shown and described, as indicated in the claims In the drawings:Figure 1 is a vertical lon itudinal section of a pedestal extension table containing this invention, the parts being shown at locked position of both top and pedestal. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the middle ortion of such table showing the top extent ed to a degree not causing the pedestal to be unlocked. Fig. 3 is a detail inverted plan view showing a locking device which may be em loyed to connect the table top members. Fig. 4 is an inverted detail plan view of certain parts which are mounted on the under side of the table to Fig. 5 is a detail section of the pedesta in the same plane as Fig. 2 showing a modification of the atching device.

The two table top members, 1 and 2, it may be understood, are extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, 3 and 4, by means of the usual construction for this purpose. The device for locking the pedestal members together comprises a bellcrank lever, 5-6, fulcrumed upon one pedes tal member, the lever having connected to its arm, 6, a latch, 7, which enga es a suitable cooperating element, as a staple, 8, on the opposite pedestal member. To the other arm, 5, oi the bell-crank lever there is connected a link, 9, which extends upward to the top of the pedestal where it is connected to the arm, 10, of the bell crank lever, 1()11, whose arm, 11, in the position in which it is normally held by the spring, 17, acting against the stop, 9, on the link, 9, extends upward and stands in the path of movement of two abutrespectively by the edge of the plate, 12, and the part, 13, pivoted to it, as seen in Fig. 2. The abutment, 12, is in such position on the under side of said table top member as to encounter the arm, 1]., in the closing movement of said table top member at any desired point within the range of the movement of said top member from the position at which it is extended for receiving a single filler to closed position of the table top member relatively to the pedestal member. Assuming nine inches as the width of a filler, the range of movement of the table top member, 1, which may be made available for actuating the lever arm, 11, is four and a half inches. The relative lengths of the different arms of the bell-crank levers, l011 and 5-6, may be such as to cause the movement of the table top member after the edge of the plate, 12, encounters the arm, 11, until said table top member is at closed position to give any desired amount of drawing movement to the latch, 7. I preferably proportion these parts so that about two and one-hall" inches of movement of the table top member will give one inch drawing movement to the latch. One-half of this amount 01 action on the pedestal will ordinarily be adequate, and the arts may accordingly be proportioned for ess when the space in the pedestal is too limited for the amount indicated.

I locate the latch, 7, and staple, 8, relatively so that they may become engaged while the pedestal members are one inch apart or whatever distance the latch is arranged to draw in the closing movement of the top. The gap in the pedestal will then be closed up by the movement of the table member through two and one-half inches of its closing movement relatively to its pedestal member, 3. It will be seen that the rocking of the lever arm, 11, inward, thrusting the link, 9, downward, causes the arm, 6, of the bell-crank lever, 56, to pull the latch, 7, toward the pedestal member, 3, and thus draw the two pedestal members together. Any convenient means may be provided, if desired, for securing the table top members, 1 and 2, together when they are thus closed; in case the construction of the parts is such that some springing of the pedestal member relative to the table top might be necessary to cause the top to be closed snugly after the ments, on the table top member, 1, formed 1 pedestal members come into contact, it is desirable to have the devices for connecting the table top members adapted to draw them slightly or clamp them together; and for that purpose, any familiar engaging device adapted for such clamping action may be employed, as, for example, any of the familiar types of sash locks, of which two elements may become engaged while there is slight separation between the parts which they c011- nect which are closed up in completing the engagement. I have shown such a familiar type of lock comprising two parts, 14 and 15, mounted on the under side of the two table members respectively just outside the slides in position to be reached by the operator, but out of sight. Any mechanic will readily apply other similarly operating expedients for connecting the table top members and so causing them to hold the pedestal members tightly together through the devices described.

A table of this type may be constructed so that the pedestal shall not be unlocked automatically unless the top is to be extended so as to receive more than a determined number of fillers. In the construction shown, it is assumed that a table is designed to be used with one filler inserted without extending the pedestal. Whenever the pedestal is to be extended the top members will be extended more than the amount necessary for accommodating this pre-determined numberas in the drawings, one filler. And for unlocking the pedestal when the top is ex tended beyond this pre-determined limit there is provided the abutment, 13, carried by the table member, 1, which encounters the arm, 11, of the bell crank lever, 101 1, in the extending movement of said table-topmember, 1, and rocks the lever for operating the pedestal lock to disengage the latch, 7, from the staple, 8, which, it will be understood, is effected by first causing the lever, 56, to swing its arm, 6, inward to the extent of the draw provided for and when that limit is reached the back stop, 7, of the latch strikes the back edge of the lever arm, 6, and the further rocking of the lever, 101 1, causes the latch to be carried with the lever, 5-6, in the upward swinging movement of the arm, 6, disengaging it from the staple and permitting thepedestal members to be spread. The further extending movement of the table member, 1, carries the abutment, 13, clear of the lever arm, 11, leaving the lever, 101 1, free to return to its normal position to which the weight of the latch, 7, and link, 9, will cause it to return, and where it is stopped, as described, by the spring, 17, hold ing the latch, 7, with slope nose in position for encountering the staple and engaging it when the pedestal members are pushed together. To receive the encounter of the abutment, 13, the lever arm, 11, may have a sideward jutting stud, 11, and the abutment, 13, is

preferably carried, as shown, at the end of an arm, 12 of the plate, 12-, through which the stop pin, 12 is inserted to limit the swinging in one direction of the abutment, 13, as hereinafter explained. The reason for thus projecting the abutment,.13, from the edge of the table top member by which it is ment, 13, is pivotally mounted on the arm,

12 stopped by the pin, 12 against swinging toward the opposite table member, but free to swing back toward the member, 1, which carries it; and when said table top member, 1, is moved inward for closing up the table the abutment, 13, swings at its pivotal connection to ride back over the stud, 1 l, resuming its pendent position by gravity when it has passed the stud. It will be seen that the pedestal lock may be operated for unlocking without the provision for its automatic actuation by the table top member, 1, because, the top of the table being open, the pedestal-lock operating devices above the pedestal are accessible, and in some instances it may be preferred to omit the automatic unlocking device.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modification of a pedestal locking device in which the bellcrank lever, 56, does not carry a latch, but, instead, a latch, 7 is carried by the opposite pedestal member and engages the offset or wrist, 5*, on the arm, 6, of the bell-crank lever. The operation of the device will be obviously the same as that of the form shown in Fig. 1.

If desired, there may be combined with the devices already shown and described for causing the closing of the top to draw together and lock the pedestal parts, means for causing the member, 1, of the table top which operates the pedestal lock to become locked automatically in the same closing process by which it looks the pedestal. A simple expedient for this purpose consists in making the abutment, 12*, on the table top member, 1, which encounters the arm, 11, of the bell-crank lever, 1011, with a serrated lower face, 12", and providing the arm, 11, at the portion of its upper end which rides under the plate correspondingly serrated, so that such two serrated members will be engaged as the lever rides under the plate, the inward inclination of the lever in this action causing it to act as a detent pawl preventing the rotation or outward withdrawal of the table top carrying the plate when it has once been pushed in so that the plate is thus engaged with the lever. I

In order to disengage the table top member, 1, from the lever, 11 as will be necessary in order to spread the table top, the plate, 12, which carries the serrated abutment, 12 is mounted slidably on the under side of the table top member, 1, being extended off above the extension slides and provided with a hooked end, 12, which may be reached just inside the margin of the table for moving it in the direction of the serrations so as to disengage the serrated face from the end of the lever arm, 11, leaving said lever arm to ride upon thesmooth track, 12 alongside the serrated face, 12. If it is preferred not to lock thetop in this manner, the plate, 12, may be left at all times pushed inward so that the lever 11, will ride on the smooth track, 12 and in order that the abutment, 13, may operate With equal efficiency in either case, the stud, 11, is duplicated upon both sides of said lever arm, 11, being preferably formed by a pin set through the arm projecting at both sides.

I claim 1. In a pedestal extension table, having the table top members extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, in combination with such table top and pedestal members; cooperating pedestal locking devices mounted on the two opposite pedestal members and located at a substantial distance below the top of the pedestal; co-

operating devices mounted respectively at the top of one pedestal member and on the table top member pertaining thereto, adapt ed to be engaged in the closing movement of the table top member with respect to the pedestal member for resisting the retraction or opening movement of said table top member, and operating connections from said devices at the top of the pedestal to one of said cooperating devices for connecting the pedestal members, adapted to hold said last mentioned device in pedestal-locking position when the table top member is in closed position. I

2. In a pedestal extension table having the table top members extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, in combination with such table top and pedestal members, cooperating pedestal locking devices mounted respectively on the ,two opposite pedestal members at a substantial distance below the top of the edestal; cooperating devices, one mounte( at the top of one edestal member and the other on the table top member pertaining thereto, adapted to become engaged in the closing movement of the table top member with respect to said pedestal member, and by their engagement to resist the opening or retracting of the table top member, and operating connections from the said device at the top of the pedestal to one of the said 006 erating pedestal locking devices for hohing the latter in pedestal locking position while said cooperating devices on the table top and pedestal respectively are so engaged and means for securing together the two table top members.

3. In a pedestal extension table having the table top members extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, in combination with such table top and pedestal members; a vertically positioned element on one pedestal member; cooperating devices for engaging each other, one operatively connected with said vertically positioned element and the other carried by the opposite edestal member located at a substan tial (istance below the top of the pedestal; means on one table-top member for actuating said vertically positioned element above the pedestal for pedestal-closing in the closing movement of the table-top member, the mutually encountering elements on the pedestal and table top respectively being relatively constructed for detainingpawl and-ratchet action in said closing movement to lock the table-top member at closed position when the pedestal has been closed by said movement, and means for disengaging said elements at will.

4. In a pedestal extension table having table top members extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, in combination with such table top and pedestal members, a vertically positioned element on one pedestal member; cooperating devices for engaging each other operatively connected with said vertically positioned element and the other carried by the opposite pedestal member, located at a substantial distance below the top of the pedestal; a lever at the top of the pedestal connected with said vertically positioned element for operating it, and an abutment on one table top member positioned for encountering said lever in the closing movement of the table top and actuating said lever for pedestalclosing movement of said engaging devices, said abutment and lover being relatively po sitioned and formed to permit the abutment to run on the end of the lever for encountering and rocking it, said lever end and the face of the abutment which runs on it being adapted for engagement to resist reverse travel of the abutment over the lever end.

5. In a pedestal extension table having table top members extensible relatively to their respective pedestal members, in combination with such table top and pedestal members, pedestal locking devices mounted on the two opposite pedestal members respectively at a substantial distance below the top of the pedestal; cooperating devices mounted one at the top of one pedestal member and the other on the table top member pertaining thereto, constructed for engagement with each other in the closing movement of the table top member with respect to the pedestal member for resisting extension or retraction of said table top member; operating connections from the cooperating device at the top of the pedestal 10 said device mounted at the top of the pedesmember.

tal member to one of the edestal locking In testimony whereof, I-have hereunto set devices, for holding it in ocking position my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 24th day when the table top member is closed, the of June, A. D., 1907.

device on said table top member being mov- CHAS. S. BURTON able transversely With respect to the direc- Witnesses: tion of extending and closing movement of a J. S. ABBOTT,

table top member for disengagement from the M. GERTRUDE ADY. 

